I Samuel Perkins of New Haven in the County of New Haven in the Colony of Connecticut in New England depose and say that the second day of August last Past I sailed from said New Haven on Board the Sloop Polly (of which I was then Master) owned by Michael Todd & John McCleave of said New Haven bound on a Voyage to Martinico in the West-Indies, the Cargo on Board of said Sloop consisted of twenty one Oxen, three Horses, twenty six thousand three hundred & a half Hoops and Staves, two thousand Bunches of Onions with a quantity of Hay Corn, Oats, Poultry, Provisions & a Number of small Articles which I cannot now recollect ー That on the third Day of said August being off south West from Block Island I was fired upon by the Kingfisher Sloop of War commanded by Capt Montague, and in a few Minutes boarded by the Kingfishers Boat, loaded with armed Men, who in a few Minutes forced Me and my Crew into the boat and carried us on Board the Kingfisher ー After they had taken Possession of my Sloop they towed her into Boston where we arrived the seventh of said August ー The Cattle and other Articles on Board were taken possession of and sold by Order of Admiral Greaves ー After they had stripped the Sloop of her Sails, Anchor and other Rigging, they set her up at Vendue and I suppose sold her, as they absolutely refused delivering of her up to me, alledging that I was on a Voyage to get Powder, which was in fact the Case ー My getting Powder being made by the Governor of Connecticutt the Condition of his dispensing with the Imbargo on the exportation of Cattle, ー

I Samuel Perkins further depose and say that the Account made out and attested to under oath by Messrs Michael Todd & John McCleave on the fifteenth Instant before Samuel Bishop Junr Esqr is an Account of the Cargoe which was owned by them and was on board said Sloop when taken as aforesaid by said Kingfisher Sloop of War. And farther this deponent saith not ー ²

N Haven December the 27th 1775 ー

New Haven Decr 27 1775 personally appeared Saml Perkins the above deponent and made Solemn Oath to the Truth of the foregoing Deposition ー before Saml Bishop Jr Just of Peace